Booker, Sherrill & Members of NJ Delegation Host Press Conference Denouncing Trump For Causing Work Stoppage of Gateway Tunnel Project
| Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) hosted a press conference alongside New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, members of New Jersey’s Congressional delegation, and union members affected by President Trump’s withholding of federal funds for the nation’s largest, most significant public infrastructure project, the Gateway Tunnel Project.
Work on the tunnel ceased today due to President Trump’s failure to release funding, and approximately 1,000 union members were laid off. The press conference comes after the Gateway Development Commission and New Jersey and New York filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over the withheld funding earlier this week. Senator Booker also announced a letter to President Trump urging him to visit the construction site and meet with the workers who have been laid off due to his Administration’s decision. “President Trump’s decision to withhold funding for the Gateway Tunnel Project is reckless, short-sighted, and deeply harmful to New Jersey’s working families. Because of this political stunt, construction has ground to a halt and 1,000 union workers have been laid off—skilled men and women who show up ready to build the infrastructure that moves our nation,” said Senator Booker. “The Gateway Tunnel Project is not a luxury; it’s an economic lifeline––one that will serve as the backbone of the Northeast Corridor and a pillar of our national economy. Every day these aging tunnels limp along, we risk catastrophic failure that would disrupt millions of commuters, strain the capacity of small businesses, drive prices on all kinds of goods and services even higher and cost our economy billions of dollars. A prolonged work stoppage doesn’t just delay progress—it spikes costs, weakens our supply chains, and undermines confidence in our ability to deliver major infrastructure projects. New Jersey and New York deserve better. The nation deserves better. We should be investing in workers, infrastructure, and the future—not playing games with people’s livelihoods.” "Shovels go down today on the Gateway Tunnel Project, costing workers their jobs, commuters their safety, and one of the most prosperous regions in the country billions of dollars,” said Senator Andy Kim. “The Trump Administration should stop playing politics with taxpayer money and get workers back on the job so we can finish this critical project.” "Donald Trump froze billions of dollars in funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project for one simple reason - to target Democratic lawmakers who refused to bend the knee," said Congressman Rob Menendez. "I will work alongside Governor Sherrill, Senators Booker and Kim, and our colleagues in New Jersey's congressional delegation to restore funding for the most consequential infrastructure project in the country. We will always put our residents and our workers ahead of petty political games, and we will fight this illegal funding freeze with everything we've got." "This transportation crisis is a five-alarm fire. Today, the funding will run out and shovels will go down on the Gateway Project — the most consequential infrastructure project in our nation right now," said Congressman Gottheimer. "We’ve got to have an all-of-the-above approach to restore the funding, including a legal strategy and also sitting down and actually negotiating to get this project moving forward. President Trump: Don't kill this project, resurrect it.“ “If the Trump administration succeeds in this reckless, partisan, colossally stupid attack on our state, over one thousand workers will immediately lose their jobs. Building Gateway is not a luxury endeavor. It is the most important transit project in the entire country. We will not let this administration jeopardize workers’ livelihoods or our region’s future on a whim. Gateway will move forward. We have waited too long, and come too far, for anything less,” said Congresswoman Nellie Pou. “The Hudson Tunnel Project is one of the most important infrastructure investments in the nation, essential to the safety, reliability, and economic strength of the Northeast Corridor. I urge the court to rule promptly in the case brought by the Gateway Development Commission so that obligated federal grant and loan funds can be released without further delay. Prolonged uncertainty threatens a project that millions of commuters, workers, and businesses rely on every day," said Congressman Herb Conaway. “The Trump Administration’s refusal to release funds for the Gateway Tunnel project is unacceptable. Over 1,000 union workers could lose their jobs, and the nation’s largest and most urgent infrastructure project is now at risk,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “This reckless decision by the Trump Administration hurts commuters, workers, and families across New Jersey. It's clear once again that Trump is failing New Jersey. Congress must act immediately to ensure this critical project moves forward and that New Jersey receives the federal funding it was awarded.” “The Gateway Tunnel is essential infrastructure for the millions who move along this major transportation hub, for the continued economic growth of the region and the country, and for the jobs and environmental stewardship opportunities it represents. The President's actions meant to spite political opponents, will do great harm to the entire country and are blatantly illegal. The Court should rule on this immediately so we can get back to work modernizing and upgrading our regional infrastructure,” said Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. “Failing to invest in the Gateway Tunnel threatens not just workers, but the entire regional economy that millions of residents depend on every day. Infrastructure investment is not optional—it’s necessary for workers, commuters, and the economic future of this region,” said Joseph DiPalma, Teamsters Local 560 President. “Maintaining the continuity of the Gateway Tunnel project is critical for UNION Iron Workers due to the immediate risks of mass layoffs and the long-term loss of thousands of specialized UNION trades jobs. A shutdown of the project puts approximately 1,000 union construction workers at risk of immediate unemployment. Iron Workers are an essential component of the remaining 60% of the workforce alongside the Laborers, Carpenters, and the Operating Engineers,” said John Wade, Business Manager Iron Workers Local 11. “Union members emphasize that any delay translates directly to missed paychecks for working families. Over the lifespan of the Gateway Program 95,000 jobs will be created. If the project is halted, the Gateway Tunnel project risks losing current contractors and skilled UNION labor who may be moved to other jobs making future restarts significantly more expensive and difficult.Local 11 Iron Workers realize this project as a vital “America First" investment that allows blue-collar families to afford and improve their local communities. Halting one site disrupts the complex coordination of the entire $16 billion project, potentially delaying the completion of the Hudson River tunnel by months or years resulting in increased costs. Additional Information: Senator Booker has long been a consistent and vocal advocate for the Gateway Tunnel Project:
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